Greeting card having compressed object therein and method of selectively controlling deformation thereof

Abstract

A greeting card having a transparent and flexible pouch enclosing a deformable object is disclosed. The transparent and flexible pouch is vacuum sealed with the deformable object inside, such that the deformable object compresses. A transparent insert may be placed inside of the transparent and flexible pouch, in order to minimize disfiguration of the deformable object during the compression process.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A greeting card having a gift item of a temporarily reduced size, the greeting card comprising:
 a greeting card body having at least a front panel and a rear panel; 
 a transparent and flexible pouch coupled to the card body, wherein the transparent and flexible pouch is sealed under vacuum-pressure; 
 a plush item received in the transparent and flexible pouch and in a compressed state from the vacuum-pressure, the plush having a front surface and a rear surface; and 
 a transparent insert received in the transparent and flexible pouch, wherein the transparent insert is more rigid than the transparent and flexible pouch; 
 wherein the transparent insert comprises a front surface and a back surface, wherein a portion of the insert is positioned between the front surface of the plush item and a portion of the transparent and flexible pouch, wherein the front surface of the plush item is pressed up against the back surface of the transparent insert by the vacuum-pressure, and wherein the transparent insert minimizes deformation of the front surface of the plush item adjacent the back surface of the insert. 
 
     
     
       2. The greeting card of  claim 1 , wherein the front panel includes an aperture through which the plush item is visible when the greeting card is in a closed position. 
     
     
       3. The greeting card of  claim 2 , wherein the shape of the aperture corresponds to the shape of the plush item. 
     
     
       4. The greeting card of  claim 1  further comprising a message printed on the greeting card, wherein the plush item is related to the message. 
     
     
       5. The greeting card of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent and flexible pouch is coupled to a rear panel of the card body. 
     
     
       6. The greeting card of  claim 1 , wherein the transparent and flexible pouch is removably coupled to the card body. 
     
     
       7. The greeting card of  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible frame member that surrounds a portion of the transparent and flexible pouch. 
     
     
       8. The greeting card of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible frame member is made from at least one of cardboard, plastic or paper. 
     
     
       9. The greeting card of  claim 7 , wherein the flexible frame member is integrally formed with the card body. 
     
     
       10. The greeting card of  claim 1 , wherein the front surface of the plush item includes a face of a character. 
     
     
       11. A greeting card with a compressible gift item comprising:
 a card body having a plurality of panels; 
 a transparent and flexible pouch coupled with the card body having a front surface and a back surface, wherein at least one section of the pouch is less deformable than another section of the pouch, and wherein the less deformable section of the pouch is part of the front surface; and 
 a deformable object received in the pouch between the front surface and the back surface, the deformable object having a front surface adjacent the less deformable section of the front surface of the pouch and a rear surface adjacent the back surface of the pouch; 
 wherein the transparent and flexible pouch is vacuum-sealed, wherein front surface of the deformable object is pressed up against the less deformable section of the front surface of the pouch, wherein the rear surface of the deformable object is pressed up against the back surface of the pouch, wherein the front surface of the deformable object against the less deformable section is deformed less than the rear surface of the deformable object, and wherein the deformable object is maintained in a compressed state, whereby opening the transparent and flexible pouch removes the vacuum-pressure on the deformable object and it returns to rest state. 
 
     
     
       12. The greeting card of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one section of the pouch is less deformable because the at least one section is more rigid than another portion of the pouch. 
     
     
       13. The greeting card of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one section of the pouch is less deformable because the transparent and flexible pouch further encloses a transparent insert which is more rigid than the transparent and flexible pouch and the transparent insert restricts deformation of the pouch in the area of the transparent insert. 
     
     
       14. The greeting card of  claim 11 , wherein at least one of the plurality of panels includes an aperture through which the plush item is visible. 
     
     
       15. The greeting card of  claim 14 , wherein the size and shape of the aperture corresponds with the size and shape of the deformable object. 
     
     
       16. The greeting card of  claim 11 , wherein the deformable object is made from the group consisting of plush and foam. 
     
     
       17. A method of manufacturing a greeting card having a compressible gift item, comprising:
 forming a greeting card body from a blank of paper stock by creating a fold line to define at least a front panel and a rear panel; 
 placing a compressible item within a transparent and flexible pouch; 
 placing a transparent insert within the transparent and flexible pouch between a portion of a front surface of the compressible item and an interior wall of the flexible pouch, thereby separating the portion of the front surface of the compressible item from abutting contact with the flexible pouch, wherein the transparent insert is more rigid than the transparent and flexible pouch, and wherein the portion of the front surface of the compressible item is pressed up against a back surface of the transparent insert by vacuum-pressure; 
 vacuum-sealing the compressible item and the transparent insert within the transparent and flexible pouch, wherein the portion of the front surface of the compressible item pressed up against the back surface of the transparent insert is less deformed than a rear surface of the compressible item pressed up against a back wall of the flexible pouch; and 
 coupling the transparent and flexible pouch to the card body. 
 
     
     
       18. The method of manufacturing of  claim 17 , further comprising cutting an aperture in the card body, such that the compressible item is visible through the aperture. 
     
     
       19. The method of manufacturing of  claim 17 , wherein the size and shape of the aperture corresponds to the size and shape of the compressible item. 
     
     
       20. The method of manufacturing of  claim 17 , further comprising providing a message on the card body which relates to the compressible item.